Process of extracting zinc.



UNITED STATES PATENT Genres.

JULES LEON BABEAND ALEXIS TRIGART, OF Penis, FRANCE.

PROCESS OF E'X-TRACTING ZINC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,764, dated June 17,1902. Application filed June 29, 1900. Serial No. 22,067. (Nospecimens.)

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that we, JULEs LiioN BABE and ALEXIS TBIOART, of Paris,France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processesof Extracting Zinc, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and effectiveprocess by whichjmetallic zinc can be economically obtained fromlow-grade zinc ores.

Theinvention consists for this purpose of thelprocess hereinafterdescribed, which comprises the steps of formingbriquets from a mixtureof the ore,carbonate of soda, and carbon, subjecting said briquets tothe action of heat suitable for driving oi the zincvapors therefrom,whereby a condensation product containing zinc oxid is formed, mix ingsaid condensation product with carbonate of soda and carbon, subjectingsaid mixture to suitable heat for driving ofi the metallic zinc in theform of vapors, and condensing said vapors.

In carrying out our improved process, for example, with calamin the oreis first calcined to twenty per cent. and pulverized. To thegpulverizedmass is added a solution of eighty kilos of carbonate of soda in twohundred and fifty-liters ofwater. To this is added thirty kilos ofcoke-dust or powdered charcoal, The whole iswellmixed and forms a pastymass, which can be cut with a spade into .blocks or briqu'ets of anydesired dimensions. These blocks are then dried and after drying introduedinto a suitable retort and heated therein to such extentas to expelthe zinc. The vapors are condensed, and the resulting condensationproduct is a powder weighing about two hundred and fifty kilograms andconsisting of various compounds of zinc, but chiefly zinc oxid. Themetallic zinc contained in this form is from sixty to seventy per cent.of the mass. This product is then mixed with thirty to forty kilos ofcarbonate of soda and thirty kilos of coke-dust or powdered charcoal andthis mixture placed in closed retorts and heated to a temperature of 800to l,O00 centigrade for about two hours. The metallic zinc passes 1 offduring this heating in the form of zinc-, 5o

vapors. The yield of metallic zinc is from one hundred and sixty to onehundred and seventy kilograms for each ton of ore treated.

The advantage of. our improved process lies in the two treatments withfresh carbonate of sodainstead of one treatement only, as heretofore.When but a single charge of carbonate of soda is used, which isintroduced initially and the mixture then treated directly fordistillingoft the zinc, a high heat and long heating are required. Wehave found, however, that if the process be divided into two parts,first a preliminary treatment by formation of the ore with carbonate ofsoda and carboninto briquets for elimination of the gangue or earthysubstance, so that the same does not enter into the subsequentoperations, and then treating the condensation product with a freshquantity of carbonate of soda and carbon, the amount of heat required islessened, the time consumed is shortened, and the amount of carbonnecessary to be employed is reduced.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The process herein described of extractingmetallic zinc from ores poor inzinc,which consist-s informing briquetsfrom a mixture of the, ore, carbonate of soda and carbon, subjectingsaid briquets to the action of heat suitable for driving 06 thezinc-vapors from said briquets, condensing the said vapors driven off,whereby a condensation product containing zinc oxid is formed, mixingsaid product with carbonate of soda and carbon, subjecting said mixtureto a suitable temperature for driving off the metallic zinc in the formof vapors, and condensing said vapors, substantially as set forth.

2. The process herein described of extracting metallic zinc from orespoor in zinc, which consists in forming briquets from a mixture of theore, carbonate of soda and carbon, subjecting said briquets to theaction of heat suitable for driving off the zinc-vapors from saidbriquets, condensing said vapors, whereby a condensation productcontaining 1 zinc oxid is formed, mixing said product with carbonate ofsoda and carbon, subjecting the mixture to a temperature of from 800 to1,000 centigrade for about two hours, and

5 condensing the vapors of metallic zinc distilling off therefrom,substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof We have signed thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J ULES LEON BABE. ALEXIS TRICART. Witnesses:

EMILE LEOBRET, EDWARD P. MACLEAN.

